Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mercedes-Benz Sl passed on its first attempt in 85.7%, and its overall record sits +6.2 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mercedes-Benz Sl in the 2023–2025 data: 54,008 tests across 22 model years (2000–2021). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mercedes-Benz Sl, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Mercedes-Benz Sl's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mercedes-Benz Sl DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mercedes-Benz Sl, each with how many of the model's 54,008 tests it was noted on.

• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 1,091 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 818 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 1.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 744 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 1.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 673 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 633 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords" (Major) — noted on about 522 Mercedes-Benz Sl tests, 1.0% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mercedes-Benz Sl Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mercedes-Benz Sl model year on record is 2020 (93.7% across 655 tests), and the weakest is 2010 (84.9%). The gap between them is 8.8 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mercedes-Benz Sl Owners

These checks follow this Mercedes-Benz Sl's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mercedes-Benz Sl.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”

  Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mercedes-Benz Sl. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT & Reliability